Ipswich

Ipswich's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Ipswich increased by 14%, from just over 117,000 to 133,000.

The addition of about 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Ipswich was home to, on average, 24 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Ipswich

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Ipswich remained 36 years.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 4,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just under 500.

About 15% of people in Ipswich are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Ipswich by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Ipswich

The number of people in Ipswich that described themselves as Christian increased from about 80,000 in 2001 to just under 71,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 68% to 53% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 72% to 59%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Ipswich that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 24,000 in 2001 to about 47,000 in 2011 (from 20% to 35%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 11,000 to just over 9,600 (from 9.1% to 7.2%).

About 3,600 people (1.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,500 in 2001 (2.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Ipswich decreased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Ipswich by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Ipswich, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.5% to 12% between the last two censuses.

The proportion that had only a single person remained close to 32%, while the percentage of households in Ipswich, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 34% to 31%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Ipswich increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ipswich, Eastof England and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Housing in Ipswich

This area saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households that owner their home.

Across the region, only Watford (from 72% to 62%) and Luton (from 70% to 60%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households that owner their home.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of households that owner their home, as the regional average fell from 72% to 68%.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) households in Ipswich owner their home, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 20%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Ipswich residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.7% to 5.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Ipswich residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Ipswich decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Ipswich, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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